Thanksgiving is a special holiday that brings together family and friends, but it also can carry some hazards for pets. Follow these tips to keep your pets healthy and safe during the holiday.

Overindulging in the family feast can be unhealthy for humans, but even worse for pets: Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest. Poultry bones can damage your pet’s digestive tract. And holiday sweets can contain ingredients that are poisonous to pets.

Keep the feast on the table—not under it. Eating turkey or turkey skin – sometimes even a small amount – can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis. Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest, and many foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to pets – including onions, raisins and grapes. If you want to share a Thanksgiving treat with your pet, make or buy a treat that is made just for them.

No pie or other desserts for your pooch. Chocolate can be harmful for pets, even though many dogs find it tempting and will sniff it out and eat it. The artificial sweetener called xylitol – commonly used in gum and sugar-free baked goods – also can be deadly if consumed by dogs or cats.

Yeast dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.

Put the trash away where your pets can’t find it. A turkey carcass sitting out on the carving table, or left in a trash container that is open or easily opened, could be deadly to your family pet. Dispose of turkey carcasses and bones – and anything used to wrap or tie the meat, such as strings, bags and packaging – in a covered, tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed trash container outdoors (or behind a closed, locked door).

Be careful with decorative plants. Don’t forget that some flowers and festive plants can be toxic to pets. These include amaryllis, Baby’s Breath, Sweet William, some ferns, hydrangeas and more. The ASPCA offers lists of plants that are toxic to both dogs and cats, but the safest route is simply to keep your pets away from all plants and table decorations.
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Quick action can save lives. If you believe your pet has been poisoned or eaten something it shouldn’t have, call your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency clinic immediately. You may also want to call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline: 888-426-4435. Signs of pet distress include: sudden changes in behavior, depression, pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

What is diabetes mellitus?
  Diabetes mellitus is a medical condition resulting in an excessive amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. This is caused by a deficiency of insulin, which is a hormone secreted by the pancreas. 
  The clinical signs seen in diabetes are largely related to the elevated concentrations of blood glucose and the inability of the body to use glucose as an energy source due to the deficiency of insulin.
  Diabetes mellitus affects an estimated one in four hundred cats, and is seen more frequently in middle to senior-age cats, and is more common in males than in females.

What are the clinical signs of diabetes mellitus?
  The most common clinical sign seen in diabetic patients are an increase in water consumption and urination. Weight loss is also a common feature, and an increase in appetite may be noticed in some cats. Recognition of these signs is variable, particulary because of the lifestyle of some cats. If a cat spends a lot of time outdoors, it may drink from ponds or pools of water outside than appearing to drink excessively from what is provided indoors. Cats that are fed canned or moist diets recieve much of their water intake from their diet, and increased water intake will be less easily recognized in these patients. 

How is diabetes mellitus diagnosed?
  The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is made based on clinical signs, persistently elevated blood glucose concentration, and the presence of glucose in the urine. However, a diagnosis of diabetes cannot be made on a single blood and urine sample because other conditions, such as stress, may also cause a transient rise in glucose levels. Confirmation of diabetes may therefore require more than one blood sample collected over a period of one to five days. 

How is diabetes mellitus treated?
  Diabetes mellitus is a treatable condition. Although long-term treatment requires commitment and dedication, it can be rewarding to successfully manage this condiiton in a beloved pet.
  Initial steps in treating a diabetic cat may involve removal of any predisposing causes for the diabetes. For example, the administration of some drugs predisposes cats to develop diabetes and withdrawal of these drugs may lead to resolution of the condition. Obese cats are more prone to developing diabetes, and weight reduction can lead to resolution of the signs in some cats.
  If there are no predisposing causes, or if correction of the predisposing causes does not lead to resolution of the diabetes, specific treatment is required. Although a small proportion of cats will respond to oral hypoglycemic medication, most cats will require insulin injections to control the diabetes. 
  During the intial stages of treatment, your cat will require several hospital visits until an appropriate insulin dosage is determined. Most cats will achieve initial stabilization within a few days to a few weeks. Many cats will require once or twice daily injections of a small dose of insulin. Small needles are available which cause no pain to the cat, and within a short period of time, the procedure becomes routine. Administration times, dosages, and type of insulin will be determined by your veterinarian. 

Do treated cats need to be monitored?
  Yes, it is important to monitor treatment to make sure it is working properly and to determine if any insulin dosage adjustments are necessary. 
  Monitoring can be done in part through the collection of occasional blood samples by your veterinarian, but it is particularly valuable to keep accurate records of the following information:
  Daily records

• Time of insulin injection
• Amount of insulin injected
• Amount and time of food fed and eaten
• Water Intake

  Weekly records

• Weight of the cat

  In addition to these records, it can be valuable to monitor the quatity of glucose passed in the urine as a guide to the effectiveness of the treatment. This is best done on urine that is passed during the night or first thing in the morning. To collect urine, it is usually easiest to replace the normal cat litter with clean and unwashed aquarium gravel at night, which will not soak up any urine passed. The urine collected can either be tested by your veterinarian, or with a kit to test it yourself. If there is any mrked change in the amount of glucose in the urine, this may indicate the need to alter the insulin dose, but you should never change the dose of insulin without first discussing it with your veterinarian. Changes in the insulin are usually based on trends in urine glucose concentrations, as there is normally some day to day variation. 

What happens if my cat receives to much insulin?
  If a cat receives too much insulin, it is possible for the blood sugar level to drop dangerously low. For this reason, it is important to be very careful in ensuring the cat receives the correct dose of insulin.
  The typical signs displayed by a cat with a very low blood sugar level are weakness and lethargy, shaking, unsteadiness and even convulsions. If a diabetic cat shows any of these signs, it is important to seek immediate veterinary advice or attention. In mild cases of hypoglycemia, you may observe a "wobbling" or "drunken" walk or appearance, and the cat may not arouse when you call or pet them. If you notice any of these symptoms, please seek veterinary advice or attention. If more severe signs are displayed, such as ataxia, or severe incoordination and unsteadiness during walking, or convulsions, you should seek immediate veterinary care. Your veterinarian can advise you on specific emergency treatment of low blood sugar in your cat.

As always, if you have any question or concerns, call your veterinarian today!

Bringing your cat to the vet can be stressful, not only for kitty, but for you as well. Here are a few tips to help the trip go as smoothly as possible. 

Step 1: Choosing a carrier
   A properly designed carrier can make all the difference when you are transporting your cat. When selecting a carrier, be sure it is large enough so that your cat can turn around inside. 
   Top loading carriers are often a favorite because they allow you to gently lower your cat into them. It can also be helpful to find a carrier that has a removable top. This is especially helpful at the veterinary clinic; if your cat is too scared to come out of his carrier, the veterinarian can remove the top and examine him while he is still huddled in the bottom half of the carrier.
   Soft-sided carriers, while they do look nice, are often more difficult to maneuver when you're trying to get your cat inside because the sides can collapse. These are not recommended. 
    If you're still having difficulty with carriers, clear Rubbermaid tubs can make great make-shift carriers. Just make sure you poke air holes and secure the lid tightly.

Step 2: Getting your cat into the carrier
   It's important to get your cat used to the carrier. Keep it in a common area of your home. Make sure to secure the door open so it doesn't snap shut suddenly and scare him. Put treats into the carrier to encourage your cat to go inside. Also, spraying the carrier with a pheromone spray like Feliway may help to calm your cat. You want him to recognize the carrier as a safe place.
   Top loading carriers are the most convenient, but if your carrier does not open from the top, you may tilt the carrier onto its back side so that you can gently lower your cat (back feet first) into the front opening. Some cats like to go spread eagle as soon as they see the carrier, which makes it difficult to fit them through the opening. It may help to wrap them in a towel.

Step 3: Riding in the car
   The carrier is the safest place for a cat to be while riding in the car. Please do not allow your cat to roam freely- this is a hazard to both you and your cat.
   If you want your cat to become more accustomed to car rides, it may help to take him to places other than the veterinarian. Start with short rides at first, and then slowly increase the duration of the drive. After each successful trip, reward your cat with affection and kitty treats. 
   Many cats are prone to car sickness, so it's a good idea for them to travel on an empty stomach. 

Step 4: Visiting the vet
   The carrier is the safest place for your cat to be when he comes to see the vet. It will help him to feel more secure when he comes into an unfamiliar environment. 
   It may help to do practice vet visits at home with your cat before bringing him to his appointment. Get him used to you touching his face, ears, feet, and tail. This may help him not to feel threatened when the veterinary staff come into contact with him in a similar manner. 
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   Be sure to praise and reward your cat with treats for his good behavior!